BROOKLYN BRIDGE PROTECTED BIKE LANE & ACCESS
Presented to Manhattan Community Board 1 April 2021 Brooklyn Bridge Protected Lane and Access Background
East River Bridge Connections • In 2007, DOT began prioritizing design changes that improve cyclist connections to the East River Bridges as well as on the East River Bridges
Brooklyn Bridge – Since 2007, numerous protected bicycle connections were installed on streets on both Brooklyn and Manhattan sides of the bridge
• Shared Use Path – Pedestrian overcrowding is the primary cyclist issues on the bridge span
• Protected Connection – There is currently no protected bicycle connection to the north of the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side, forcing cyclists to share the roadway with vehicles
Bicycle Volumes on the East River Bridges • As cyclist volumes have grown on the other three bridges in the last five years (+4%), volumes on the Brooklyn Bridge have fallen (-44%)
2 Brooklyn Bridge Protected Lane and Access Brooklyn Bridge Design
Remove one vehicle travel lane and install two-way protected bike lane on the bridge, work is currently ongoing
8’ 2-Way Bike Lane 2’ 10’ Vehicle Lanes (2) 5 Brooklyn Bridge Protected Lane and Access Issues/Timeline: Landmarks
• Brooklyn Bridge is a designated NYC Landmark (8/24/1967); changes subject to review and approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission
• Proposed changes to bridge have minimal historic impact and are generally non- destructive/reversible.
6 Brooklyn Bridge Protected Lane and Access Manhattan Connections
Protected Connections Linking the Brooklyn Bridge bike path to points further north is essential to its success
DOT is developing proposals to
provide protected connections 6’
8 Brooklyn Bridge Protected Lane and Access Manhattan Connections
CHAMBERS ST
Restrict left turning CENTRE CENTRE ST vehicles to a protected phase so that there is a dedicated time for north and southbound bikes to pass through the intersection
Install center-running bike lane to continue bridge path through Chambers St to where Centre and Lafayette split at Reade St
9 Brooklyn Bridge Protected Lane and Access Manhattan Connections Improve bicycle connection to points north and to the rest of the protected bicycle network
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* 10 Brooklyn Bridge Protected Lane and Access Summary
Timeline & Next Steps for Centre St Connection
April • Present to CB1 in Manhattan
Summer • Complete traffic analysis and design • Return to Community Board to present bike lane connections
Fall • Begin implementation
12 Questions? THANK YOU!
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